Terrible service!!! Stopped here with about 6 other friends to eat. We were ignored for the first 15 minutes. Once we sat down it took 20 minutes for the ONE waitress to come to our table. We decided to order everything at once since it seemed like it was going to take forever! Since we had separate checks the waitress took our credit cards to separate our bills. Food was ok but took forever to come out and the waitress forgot to put one of our orders so he did not get his food until we left and he just took it to go. Once we went to pay I never received my debit card. When I asked the waitress for my card she said she gave it to me, but never did. After 20 minutes of looking for my card the waitress just said it was lost and asked for my contact information to call me if she found it. I never received an apology and she never even got a manager to come to our table to talk to me. Of course they never found my card. I had to cancel and order a new one, which was annoying. Never ever returning to this place!! read more

Matilda is awesome. Great bar upstairs, sweet secret dance room downstairs...what more could you ask for? My girlfriend and I actually met there two years ago, and have been going back for Valentine's Day each year. The owner is great...very responsive to calls and emails. Also, the food is pretty fantastic. I may have been the only person to order the Filet Mignon stuffed with Bleu Cheese last night, but it was a damn good steak. And they have Friends Red Wine on the menu...which is incredible and apparently pretty hard to find. Fantastic atmosphere, cool decorations inside, and a great location. As a plus, they usually have one of the bartenders iPod's as their jukebox...which can lead to an awesome state of Gin Blossoms induced euphoria. read more

Nice bar with a good ambiance and an abundance of seating for groups to sit and chat. This place never gets really crowded even though it is a big space. The craft beers and mixed drinks are generally $1 more than bars that are in the area (ex: Half Acre = $6 ). Be careful going down the stairs to the basement for the bathroom. You might fall down and die since they are basically the same angle that a ladder would be. The "must be over 23" rule on weekends keeps out the nearby out the college people if you don't like youngins. The music is usually really good as well. read more

The music was too loud, and it was only about 7pm and people were eating dinner. Impossible to have a conversation. Food was fine, nothing to rave about. My martini was pretty good, a little pricey. Interior was kinda cute. Probably won't go back. read more

Bar food is bar food. But the only thing on the table with flavor was the ranch dressing for my over cooked sandwich and fries. Matilda has a nice atmosphere and I appreciated the fact that music was played at a level that allowed easy conversation. However, next time I would skip the food. read more

Do NOT get the quesadillas here. One of the most bland things I've ever tasted. Not worth the $9 I spent on them.

Matilda is my favorite bar/watering hole/gastropub/etc. in this great city that has so many options to pick from. It features a great selection of microbrews, wines and spirits, and a variety of tasty menu options. But one of it's greatest attributes is the amazing staff and ownership. They are without a doubt some the nicest, kindest, genuine, service-oriented folks you'll meet. And as a regular patron I'm fortunate to have gotten to know these "good people" over the years and consider them to be my friends... Cheers to Wiliam, Maggie, Murph', Ryan, Andera, Craig, Amanda, Dawn, Lindsey, Steve, Kristen, Kateem,... and of course Kevin. The most valuable resource of any successful organization us its human resources. And this crew is top notch! read more

Matilas's is a great bar to begin with...the atmosphere, the staff, and the food are all amazing! Which is why I decided to have my birthday celebration downstairs at baby Atlas. The planning was great from start to finish. I worked with Kevin on all the pre-planning details and he was able to accommodate all my requests. He was even able to get some special liquor(s) that I requested. Baby Atlas is a good size for groups under 50, has a full bar, sound system, and the bathrooms are right outside. Just be careful on the steps coming down! I ordered in pizzas, did drink wristbands, and was able to play my own music (till 11:00 when the DJ takes over). Overall, the party was a lot of fun and everyone had a great time. I would highly recommend this venue for a party. read more

I've been to Matilda a few times now and plan on returning, especially since its within stumbling distance. Two of these times were on Sundays where they take 25% off the bill if you live in the area. This is especially awesome because the food is pretty damn good. It does take a while by bar standards, but the waitress alerted us that they make everything from scratch, so it was expected. Don't expect straight up bar food either, they have a nice twist to most dishes to class them up. On Sunday, for 20 bucks a person you can get food a couple drinks - a nice way to cap the weekend. The beer list is pretty good, they have several typical crafts of tap and a couple specialties in addition to the typical fare in bottles (I'm glad they aren't wasting taps on them). I've never had a problem with service or the staff any of the times I've been there, all seem friendly enough. It's easy enough to walk in secure a table and relax with friends as it never seems to get very crowded, which I have to say I am a huge proponent of. The atmosphere accordingly is pretty laid back. I'm not exactly sure what the decorations are going for perhaps a mellowed industrial feel? I guess it can be a discussion point. One last thing - beware the stairs to the lower level. While not the Aggro Crag, they will certainly provide a challenge when inebriated. read more

Our order was messed up at a table of 4. One person got their food when we're all almost done. Do not get the burger...you pay about 12.00 for a burger u can get on the 2 for 2 menu at mcdonalds. It's all bun and toppings the meat is invisible and dry!!!!! The grilled cheese is godn awful! read more

Beware of billing fraud in this place. When I went last time, I realized from my credit card state statement that my total bill amount was manipulated by the server. I had to dispute it with my credit card company. I never expected such unprofessional service. No wonder other reviews criticize the staff. Hope the management wakes up to save their business. read more

escape the crowds and head to the small room downstairs. decor downstairs was hodgepodge with sort of a wiccan flare, maybe it was the unfettered tapered candles. ordered a couple of gin and tonics and was surprised to have them served in goblets. goblets?...but it worked. read more

LOOOVE dancing here so much! The music is just so great...nowhere else has their great style. Some nights it is a miss but when it's hot is it the BEST night every...can't top dancing here! Then when you get hot downstairs, you can go up and play jenga or chill for a bit. read more

The one thing about this place that I liked the best was the music they played. It was everything from songs of today to songs from the 90's or 80's. The inside is very interesting and different. The walls are decorated with pictures and various items to look at it. There are pool tables too, which are always being used. read more

Matilda will either put you off by its strong sense of self or you will embrace it for its devil-may-care approach to whether or not you "get it". I don't get it, but I also don't give a damn if I do or don't. Here's what I know: (1) the menu is worth reading in its own right for its creative description (more of an attitude) of each offering; (2) the wine list is unusually appealing, with only one wine in each varietal category, and to hell with you if you don't like the representative choice; (3) my server was extremely knowledgable, welcoming and attentive; (4) my fish tacos with a side of guacamole were sublime; and (5) my wine choice -- as deferred to my server because my awareness of the choices was limited to color -- turned out to be an extraordinary experience in a 3-glass red flight that went from a French Pinot Noir thru a Doctor Wolf California hodge podge to a Washington Cab; and (6) my wonton dessert filled with cookie dough and topped with a dash of raspberry coulis was far better than described. Spent the better part of 2 hours seated outside immersed in a good book, pretty good people watching, good food and wine, and great service. Is there more to life? read more

Very fun place. Artsy and eclectic on the first floor... then you go down some steep stairs and it is a happening dance floor! We had a great time!!! read more

I wrote a review of Matilda's almost 2 1/2 years ago, a few years into coming to the restaurant. My feelings about it have not changed. Sadly, I don't get here as much now that I have a 20mth old, but the food is still wonderful, the drinks still lethal, and the people who own and run the place are as great as ever. My husband and I are moving to Baltimore in a few weeks, and we went to Matilda's tonight with our daughter for our final dinner there (be sure to check out their outside tables- great people watching). They ended up "comp-ing"about half of our bill for our loyalty over the years - it is the end to what has been a series of memorable experiences at Matilda's. Tips for ordering: $5 appetizers on Thursdays, the steak salad is unique and delicious, and the happy and sunset martinis are the best. They are kid friendly on weeknights (and earlier in the night) and have a high chair (only one though :) ). read more

Love this place. Great deals on Thursday.

Horrible service. Waitress ignored our table even though it wasn't a busy night. Food was good, but not good enough to put up with this nonsense. read more

I enjoy Matilda but I REALLY enjoy Baby Atlas (downstairs miniature version of a dance bar). Don't forgot to be drunk when you arrive and have someone there to help you down the stairs. read more

I love this place! I just started going to Matilda a couple months ago. Great atmosphere, great service and awesome food. The bartenders and servers are fun and good at their jobs (which is most important to me). They're fast and friendly and laid back and totally themselves. Which is how the place is. It's a nice break from the normal collegy sports bars in the neighborhood. During the week it's nice and chill and romantic (I've gone on two dates here) and on the weekends it's a great party. Friday's downstairs in the Baby Atlas are awesome! Fun Hip-hop stuff and everyone dances and it's a great time. I've met some really great people there. Apparently you can rent out the downstairs for a few hours for free! I haven't done it yet but I definitely will. Try the steak salad for sure. And a martini. And they have a great little wine list. Monday nights are great. The bartender is chill but does his job well. The music is great and it's really relaxing. A great way to start the week. Matilda has definitely become one of my main places in Chicago. If you haven't gone, get on to it! read more

Love this bar! Unique atmosphere and the people are great! Good specials during the week ($1 hamburgers Monday, $1 Fish tacos Tuesday and Wednesday wine night!). I reccommend the steak salad and the nachos. Is good for a date or a group gathering. Younger crowds will enjoy the Baby Atlas downstairs on the weekends, but for those of us who want a fun vibe but not all the dancing, the upstairs is perfect. read more

I was a little apprehensive in going there for dinner as Matilda's website clearly points out that food comes out slowly. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I had apps and entree and left out within an hour and a half. Server was very friendly. Food was tasty. i got the porkchop...highly recommend. The wings came on a big platter with lots of carrots and celery. The $9 price seemed steep when looking at the menu, but I think i got a lot of good wings. It was pretty dark inside. Fine for a nightclub, but odd for having dinner. I was nervous on the cleanliness of things and wondered what one would see should the lights go on. it was about 7:30 on a Friday evening and things were pretty mellow. Was able to have conversation without shouting. Crowd looked to be mature. Lots of hipsters. read more

Great beer! Also I had an issue where my credit card was overcharged. I called them while they were closed, but they still got back to me within the hour and resolved the matter quickly. Great customer service! read more

The day we went out to this bar, one of my friends lost her cell phone. We went back to Matilda just to see if she left her phone there. When we went back to the bar, it was closed, but we saw about 6 employees inside. We knocked on the door trying to explain our situation, but nobody came close to us, but they were so annoyed and screamed at us "it's closed!". We obviously know it's closed, but I said "my friend lost her cell phone!" and they were still so annoyed and yelled back to us that there is no cell phone without even looking around anywhere. Wow, really, we weren't trying to go in or anything, we just wanted to check if there's a phone left at the bar. They didn't have to be so rude and be jerks about it. So disappointed! read more

This is a cute quiet local bar. Great for dates. Very cozy. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is they were super understaffed tonight leaving one waitress for at least 6 tables of large groups and the whole bar. It took over 40 minutes to get some flatbreads. But she was as attentive as she could be given the situation. Also pay attention to the deals here or you'll end up really over paying. read more

Horrible customer service, the bouncer was extremely rude and unwelcoming (I understand you have to check ID's but there is not excuse for being rude while doing so). Onto the bar, it took 10 minutes for the bartender to make their way to our party, my group and I were celebrating one of my friends 23rd birthday and it took ages to even get a drink order in.. The drinks weren't terribly priced, that is the only reason I give it two stars, other then that I would pass on this place. We live right next to it and would much rather walk a couple more blocks to a more hospitable, exciting place then spend it here. read more

I recently reserved Matilda's basement bar area, babyAtlas, for a 30th birthday party with about 25 friends. It was great! The customer service with Kevin, the owner, was easy. Maggie, the bartender was as sweet as can be; and I was able to bring in any food, desserts, music and decorations that I wanted. We had our own personal bartender and had the space reserved FOR FREE from 8-11pm on a Friday night. Best part - I didn't need to pay anything ahead of time or guarantee a certain number of attendees. All my friends raved about the bar to me during and after the party. I highly recommend this space for a gathering or party. read more

I went there the other night with a group of four girls. We ordered wine and some appetizers. Our appetizers still hadn't come after an hour. We were heading to a comedy show so we didn't have enough time to keep waiting on them. When we complained about this and asked for our checks, we were told this was our fault because we didn't let the server know we were in a hurry. After all this, we were only given half off our drinks. You could not pay us to go back. read more

My favorite chicago bar. Great Juke box (mix of indie and pop). I love the bartendars, they always remember me and my drinks. Also, they have great specials every day. My favorite are the dollar tacos on tuesdays. read more

Held several Drink and Draw socials at Matilda last year...Great place to hang out and draw with some friends. Food was great. Wait staff was attentive and pleasant. Very nice atmosphere...beautiful celestial theme in the room we met in. read more

This place is terrible! We had shitty service and even a lie about the charges that were being made on our card. There was no greeting when our waitress came over, rude comments, extra charges on our card, no thanks or any acknowledgement for that matter when receiving our bill....drink was terrible tasting and they would do nothing to remedy. The atmosphere is dark and dingy, staff not inviting and drinks that taste like gasoline!! Enjoy!! read more

Let me begin by saying that I have lived in the area for many years and have had a decent experience at Matilda's in the past. I'm a healthcare professional and my employer has hosted plenty of work parties here in the past. However, after my visit tonight, I will never come back to this place again. A couple of coworkers and I decided to grab and bite and some drinks at Matilda's this week (1/20/15). It wasn't busy at all which was appreciated after a hectic day at work. Our waitress came to help us promptly as was initially pleasant. There were 4 of us and we all ordered dinner as well as a round of martinis. The food and the first drink I had were good, which is why I give any stars at all. The issue came when I decided to try another cocktail on their menu that had ingrediants I typically love (citron vodka, apple liquer, etc). When I tried this drink, it tasted awful - clearly made with poor quality alcohol, causing it to taste like cough syrup. I was not planning to say anything until my coworkers tried to drink and agreed that it tasted terrible, at which point I decided to politely explain to the waitress what the issue is and ask for another drink instead. The waitress initally agreed, but then came back and informed me that they will still be charging me for that drink, as well as whatever else I order instead... I tried to politely explain that I have had similar drinks before and that this drink is just not good, to which she responded that she tried my drink with a straw and thought it was fine... I then asked to please speak with the manager and was told that the manager is the bartender, the same person who made this decision. At that point, I politely declined to order anything else and was asked for our check. My coworker then explained to the waitress why this lack of customer service is so disappointing, and that this will deter our group from coming back... to which the waitress replied (in a sarcastic tone) "well... I'm sorry that such a small thing ruined your experience".... for real?? After we again explained to her why this situation is so upsetting and petty, she walked away, and about 10 minutes later returns with the other drink I requests, shoves it in front of me, and walks away without any apologies or explanation. Needless to say, I left without drinking it, and everyone in our group walked away completely appalled at this whole scene. I'm not someone to ever sends back my order, nor do I ever complain about service... but this experience is unlike anything I have ever encountered in the service industry. I will be sure to share my experience with friends as well as my employer, and we will not be hosting events with you anymore. Good luck Matilda's.. read more

Nope. Never again. Came here to try out a new packers bar but will definitely be sticking with wills from now on. Atmosphere was awful and decor seemed to be mostly mismatched thrift store finds and not the good kind. Service was poor and the little food we got was inedible. We were told when we ordered that the kitchen was backed up and food would take a while, which is fine but I expect some decent food when it comes out. 45 minutes later I get my completely burnt burger with "side salad" which basically consisted of three pieces of lettuce and a baby carrot, no dressing. Oh and it was an extra $2 for this addition. We also ordered a plate of fries that did not come out with the food. 20 minutes later we were finally able to track down our server who then brought over a plate of about 10-15 fries. She attempted to apologize by stating "our kitchen is a nightmare today". Here's a thought, maybe don't offer the full menu on days when you know the bar will be packed and definitely don't trash talk about your own coworkers. Not that the bar/ drinks were any better. $9 for a Bloody Mary that was essentially just tomato juice, no spice or vodka from what I could tell. Not sure how this place stays in business, especially considering the death trap stair case leading down to the bathrooms which I'm sure has cause a fair share of lawsuit threats. Terrible bar. Wish I could take make my time and money spent here. read more

I love Matilda. My only complaint is that drinks are a little expensive. I understand they may be trying to keep the riffraff out, but they seem to accomplish that with the 23-and-older policy. Matilda is delightful island in the sea of Wrigleyville and Lincoln-Park college-y sports bars filled with wasted Bud Light and Jagerbomb enthusiasts. I guess it appeals to the snob in me. The decor is whimsical and the lights flattering. The stairs grow more daunting with each drink. They are truly dangerous. If you get there early enough, you can play pool or grab one of many tables in either room. The jukebox leans indie...Peter Bjorn and John, My Morning Jacket, that kind of stuff. Good place to retreat to after catching a show at the Vic just up the street. Super-friendly, unpretentious service and pretty good food, too. Just wish this was a 4am bar, and that it was open on Sundays, which I believe it isn't. read more